Bangkok has risen 32 places and entered the top 100 most expensive locations for the first time, according to the latest cost of living survey published by ECD International.

“Over the past five years, Bangkok has climbed more than 80 places. The Thai capital now sits in 90th place in our cost of living rankings. The baht has strengthened in recent years, as the economy has expanded and the political landscape has stabilised.

“This means that Thai locations are now significantly more expensive for expat workers than they have been in the past,” Lee Quane, regional director – Asia, said on Monday.

While Malaysian cities have seen big rises in the rankings, all three of the country’s surveyed locations still sit outside of the global top 150.

I wonder how much reliance can be placed on these surveys. It depends which factors are included:-..school fees, accommodation, transport, food etc? It also depends on your income.

A billionaire can afford anything he wants in any city of the world. However, someone on THB 10,000 a month might find Bangkok expensive.

I was surprised to see that Kuala Lumpur is rated as being much cheaper than Bangkok (188 as opposed to 90). I last worked in KL about 4 years ago and, at that time, it was more expensive than Bangkok.

Also, the comparison between Singapore and Malaysia is very interesting (20 against 188). Such a big difference in living costs ought to present lots of opportunities for smuggling. Personally, I don’t think that the comparison is accurate.

However, if anyone is able to identify what the smuggling opportunities are, then I suggest we go and set up shop in Johor Bahru and start shipping stuff across the Causeway.

A billionaire can afford anything he wants in any city of the world. However, someone on THB 10,000 a month might find Bangkok expensive.

Hi t/t - expensive for some and peanuts for others - if you have very little money anywhere would seem to be pricey, on holiday no problem, only a couple of weeks, hotel booze and a leg over, saved up all year, no moans.

but for an expat living here, a broom cupboard to rent/buy in Bangkok in a condo, PANG very exspensive, land, don't even think about it. Downtown Bangkok land prices still increasing. Siam Square, where 2 million baht will buy you one square wah. will it price itself out.

Some say Phuket is the most expensive place in Thailand, for Thais as well as for holidaymakers. again it depends on what you are talking about - accommodation, meals etc etc and where you are talking about. Suffice to say that Bkk is significantly cheaper in terms of all of the above, than Phuket. Udon, Khon Kaen etc are cheaper again. To give you an example, the Charoensri hotel, one of the top 2 in Udon, costs 1200 Baht per night for a double room including breakfast. You can eat a decent Thai meal there for 50 Baht.

If you think isaan is cheaper, that would depend on who you married, lol.

Claims have been made that Phuket has priced itself out of the market.Both Thais and foreigners are voting with their feet saying that a trip to the Thai holiday island is as expensive as going abroad – and possibly more so.

A devastating analysis – mostly via pictures – appeared on Facebook and was widely shared and picked up by the Thai press.

Where is everybody? Patong businesses suffering ‘worst high season in 10 years’

The Chinese and Americans stay at home or tightened their spending to save money in expectation of a recession caused by Trump's trade war, and the Europeans stay home or tightened their spending in expectation of a recession caused by a hard Brexit.